Sam M. - - Starting PG ; ??? - - Back-up PG

[ser_solace]

I, like most, think Sam M. is going to be the starting PG with Ruff out. That's great for his development, and he'll do a fine job.

However, who's going to assume the back-up PG duties? How are the minutes going to be distributed now? I think JC is a logical choice for giving Sam a break at the point. Really, I only see JC and Andrew Warren as being the alternative PGs. TCS is not a viable option right now.

But if JC or Warren are to be the back-up PGs, I think one of them has come off the bench and not start. Otherwise, someone is going to have to be playing all 40 minutes of the game. Or can Sam M. do that since he's pretty well conditioned?

Anyway, I think it's a tough break for Ruff to be injured, but it'll be interesting how this is all going to shake out.

[Dubl R 1]

Where for art thou Dwight Buycks.

[ph]

Just because TCS is not point guiard does not mean he cannot be backup to JC or AW as a 2 or 3.

The only other options are going with 2 bigs, and moving TW to the 3 or playing Lavin at PG. (I believe Lavin is always the point for the scout team, and regularly tries to push Ruff) Considering that TCS and other bigs have already received more minutes than Lavin, that is probably not much an option...

[MacabreMob]

Start JC at the point. SM comes off the bench. SM takes over the point when JC, AW or TW all take a breather - moving JC to the 2 if he stays in. JC will be the one winding up with closer to 40 minutes played.

I know, I know... I tried this pitch before.

I expect SM to start at the point - but I'm still gonna campaign for JC starting at point.

[Dubl R 1]

It's gonna be tough. I'm torn wether I would rather see AW or JC take over at point when Sam M gets a blow. There's pro's and con's to both. I still like MMob's idea of going big. Pound the ball into DC and company and see what they can do with 15+ touches a game, we may be pleasantly surprised. The only knock I have on Sam M so far is that he gives the ball up a little too early, before guys are in position to do something with it yet, especially on the fast break, or in the beginning of the offensive set just as he passes halfcourt. He doesn't care if it's JC or Matt Salley or Sam Sing, or where they are on the floor, if he sees that they are open he fires the ball to them. He needs to get his timing down better on when to deliver the ball to the right person in a good position to do something they are capable of. He'll get better at that with more playing time.

I also think JL has to help the players out here too. We might need to run some more quick hitters and structured plays. Our offense seems predicated to constant ball screens to break down the defense, and allow the offensive player to read and take advantage of those breakdowns. I think sometimes our freshman and our newcomers are either not capable of yet, or are too timid to make plays happen off of those ball screens. It was evident that without Ruff in the VCU game, our offensive scheme doesn't fit this team that well. Ruff is the perfect type of player for our offense, as was Will Franklin. I'm not sure JC or AW can play like that at the point. I'd rather see some double screens for JC and AW for shots, and some curl screens at the foul line for TW and Egolf to get them the ball driving the basket where they can use their athleticism, and some cross screens in the paint for DC, MS and SS.

[ph]

As our bigs currently play, I cannot see any benefit to using 2.
However, it may be helpful to have 2 bigs rotating in between setting high screens and back door cuts. There's a chance we could always have a big in scoring position (that's a novel idea)

I worry about JC at the point vs fast/solid defensive teams. He may do adequate vs UNI but that would be more of an abberation than constant. I also did not like hearing the radio call last game about JC threw the ball at the bigs feet, again. JC has the height to make a high-low work better than Ruff, but now as the primary scorer, he'll probably face too much defensive attention to be an effective ball-handler.

[Beninator]

This will be cannibalized from MMobs thread, but I agree with MMobs big lineup but I would like to see Andrew Warren as the point guard with SamM backing up AW... Mob wanted JC as the starting pg...(and I understand mob's opinion)

AW- pg who can see over his defender for the most part.

JC - in the usual slot where we can use his senior experience.

TW-we all know what TW can do and will need more from him

DC and MS-- go big inside and develop the bigs to overcome Ruff's abscence...

All this being said, SamM is probably going to be the starting pg.

[real fan]

If you put A.Warren or J.C. at the point then you take away those players strengths as well as they would have trouble guarding a quick point guard; my lineup would be:
Collins or Singh at center
Salley, Egolf or Austin at power forward
Wilson or Crouch at small forward
Warren Cole-Scott at shooting guard
Ruffin or Maniscalco at point guard

You could mix Crouch in at shooting guard and Warren or Cole-Scott at the point if you played a zone defense; just an opinion .

[Fetz86]

I say we get Malnati from New Trier on the line for a quick seminar on how to play without a true point guard and go with
AW
JC
TW
MS
DC
as the starters.